Eating unit

ABSTRACT

An eating unit comprising a circular table which facilitates stand-up eating. The table has a circular base and a circular eating surface. These components are in a spaced apart relationship and are connected by a plurality of supports. The eating surface incorporates a central aperture. A waste container is positioned on the base below the central aperture. The waste container is of such a diameter that it is adapted to pass through said supports.

United States Patent inventor Richard K. Zimmerly 7920 Fishback Road, Indianapolis, Ind. 46278 Appl. No. 824,471 Filed May 14, 1969 Patented July 20, 1971 EATING UNIT 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

US. Cl 108/150 A471) 13/02 Field of Search 108/149- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,591 1 1/1935 Everitt 108/124 2,683,639 7/1954 Brenny 108/132 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Glenn 0. Finch Altorney-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt and Naughton ABSTRACT: An eating unit comprising a circular table which facilitates stand-up eating. The table has a circular base and a circular eating surface. These components are in a spaced apart relationship and are connected by a plurality of supports. The eating surface incorporates a central aperture. A waste container is positioned on the base below the central aperture. The waste container is of such a diameter that it is adapted to pass through said supports.

PAIENTEU JUL 20 l97| INVENTOR Qanmao ZIMMEELY AZ ZOIYIE J EATING UNIT Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention is concerned with furniture and more specifically with an eating table. The table incorporates a circular base and an eating surface which are interconnected. It is particularly suited for stand-up eating in quick dining areas.

2. Description of the Prior Art Stand-up eating-type furniture is known in the prior art. In its most common form this type of furniture generally comprises a shallow table which is usually positioned adjacent to a wall. Because customers may only utilize one side of this table, it is not possible to make maximum usage of the available floor space. Likewise tables which cooperate with waste containers are known in the prior art. However, in this prior art, access to the container by a plurality of persons was not possible and it could not be readily serviced.

In contrast with the problems of the prior art the table of this invention is adapted to serve a plurality of customers at the same time and to make maximum usage of the available floor space. Likewise, the table of this invention incorporates a waste container which can be readily serviced and utilized by a plurality of customers.

Summary of the lnvention A piece of furniture comprising a table which is adapted for stand-up eating. The table has a circular base which is connected to a circular eating surface by a plurality of supports. The eating surface incorporates a central aperture under which is positioned a waster container. Waste material can be deposited in the waste container through the aperture.

Brief Description of the Drawings The FIGURE is a perspective view of the table of this invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the FIGURE, it can be seen that table 2 of this invention incorporates a circular base 4 and a circular eating surface 6. These components are held in a spaced apart relationship by means of a plurality of supports 8 which are attached thereto. These supports are equally spaced on the surfaces of base 4 and eating surface 6. Any convenient number of supports can be utilized. However, it is preferred that there be three or four of them. These supports can be positioned in a vertical or in a tapered stance.

The eating surface incorporates a circular aperture 10. A waste container 16 is positioned below theaperture in such a fashion that waste material can be deposited therein through said aperture. The maximum dimensions of the waste container are such that it will pass between supports 8 and hence can be serviced by sliding said container between these supports.

Positioned around the circumference of the aperture and extending radially therefrom are a plurality of partitions 12 which divide the eating surface into convenient segments. Likewise these partitions function as a support for shelf 14. This shelf is generally spaced above the eating surface and is useful as an area for the placement of condiments. Likewise this shelf serves as a convenient cover for aperture 14 and generally hides from view the contents of the waste container.

it can be seen that the table of this invention is readily adapted to service a plurality of customers in a quick dining area at any given time. Generally one customer can be served for each eating area which is defined by the partitions. These partitions segment the eating area such that every customer has an area which is clearly his for usage. When several of the tables of this invention are used it is possible for a quick dining restaurant to serve a relatively large number of customers in a small area.

Finally when the table of this invention is used it 15 possible to service an eating area with a minimum amount of labor. The servicing is done by the patron himself rather than by an employee of the proprietor. This results in a substantial savings over a period of time for the reason that labor and ser vice costs generally are nowadays increasing so rapidly. All the patron has to do is push the uneaten food as well as the paper or plastic dishes into the waste container. Should the patron not attend to this chore, the next customer can do so, simply by sliding his tray forwardly, thereby pushing the waste materials into the container. The partitions serve a useful purpose in this connection in addition to their segment-dividing purposes. They help channel and guide the waste material into the container.

What I claim is:

1. An eating unit comprising a base, an eating surface segmented by a plurality of partitions, said base and eating surface being in a spaced apart relationship and connected by a plurality of supports, said eating surface incorporating a cen tral aperture, a waste container which is adapted to be received on said base between said supports and under said aperture said container having a diameter slightly less than the distance between said supports to permit the ready removal of said waste container for purposes of emptying it, and a shelf being spaced from and generally overlying said aperture, the innermost edges of said partitions being used to support said shelf.

2. An eating unit comprising a base, an eating surface, said base and eating surface being in a spaced apart relationship and connected by a support, said eating surface incorporating a central aperture, a waste container which is adapted to be removably received under said aperture, a shelf being spaced from and generally overlying said aperture, and means connected to said eating surface for supporting said shelf in its position.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said shelf is segmented by a plurality of partitions.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which said partitions are said means for supporting said shelf.

5. The combination of claim 2 additionally consisting of a second and third support for connecting said base with said eating surface. 

1. An eating unit comprising a base, an eating surface segmented by a plurality of partitions, said base and eating surface being in a spaced apart relationship and connected by a plurality of supports, said eating surface incorporating a central aperture, a waste container which is adapted to be received on said base between said supports and under said aperture said container having a diameter slightly less than the distance between said supports to permit the ready removal of said waste container for purposes of emptying it, and a shelf being spaced from and generally overlying said aperture, the innermost edges of said partitions being used to support said shelf.
 2. An eating unit comprising a base, an eating surface, said base and eating surface being in a spaced apart relationship and connected by a support, said eating surface incorporating a central aperture, a waste container which is adapted to be removably received under said aperture, a shelf being spaced from and generally overlying said aperture, and means connected to said eating surface for supporting said shelf in its position.
 3. The combination of claim 2 in which said shelf is segmented by a plurality of partitions.
 4. The combination of claim 3 in which said partitions are said means for supporting said shelf.
 5. The combination of claim 2 additionally consisting of a second and third support for connecting said base with said eating surface. 